UN official Ibrahim Gambari has arrived in Burma to press the military rulers to commit to democratic reforms. During his four-day trip, he will meet military leader Than Shwe as well as opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently under house arrest. The international community is piling pressure on Burma to make serious changes to its harsh regime. But so far there has been been little indication that the ruling generals are willing to co-operate. Mr Gambari last visited Burma in May, when he was given the rare opportunity of meeting Aung San Suu Kyi, the detained democracy leader who is seen as a symbol of resistance to Burma's ruling military junta. It was the first time in more than two years that a foreigner had been allowed to meet her, and the visit fuelled hopes that she would soon be released, and that the military might finally make some concessions to international demands. But almost as soon as Mr Gambari left the country, such hopes were dashed... http://news.bbc.co.uk

Emboldened by their congressional election triumph and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's resignation, Democrats say they will use their new clout to force a change in Iraq policy and demand that President Bush start bringing troops home. Rumsfeld's resignation - and Bush's pledge to work with Democrats on issues facing the nation - came after months of the president backing Rumsfeld and insisting the war in Iraq was on track. His arguments lost steam after voters catapulted Democrats to power in Tuesday's voting, giving Democrats control of both the House and Senate next year. Democrats say they hope election gains would provide momentum for more than the fall of Rumsfeld. First stop next year will be legislation calling for an undetermined number of troops to come home immediately. Though Democrats are divided over exactly what to propose, they say their effort will send a loud political signal to disgruntled U.S. voters, and to Iraqis to assume more responsibility...http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6203442,00.html

A new volcanic island has risen from the South Pacific near Tonga, according to reports from two vessels that passed the area.The crew of the Maiken, a yacht that left the northern Tongan islands group of Vava'u in August, reported on their Web log on Aug. 12 that they saw streaks of light, porous pumice stone floating in the water — then "sailed into a vast, many-miles-wide belt of densely packed pumice."They posted photos of huge pumice rafts that they encountered after passing Tonga's Late island while sailing toward Fiji. "We were so fascinated and busy taking pictures that we plowed a couple of hundred meters into this surreal floating stone field before we realized that we had to turn back," wrote a crewman identified only as Haken.The next day they spotted an active volcanic island, Haken wrote....http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,228385,00.html

The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, today said the barrage of shells that killed 18 civilians in their Gaza Strip homes had been "a mistake". Mr Olmert called for an immediate meeting with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. His words came after tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun to bury the victims of yesterday's attack. Stretchers carried the bodies from 18 ambulances that had taken them from hospital morgues through the artillery-damaged apartment buildings where they died. Chants of "God is greater than Israel and America", punctuated by the firing of gunshots into the air, rang out. A relative of one victim fired a gun into the air, shouting: "I will revenge." A cemetery under construction in Beit Hanoun was opened to accommodate the victims because no other cemetery had enough land to allow them to be buried together. A Palestinian flag flew over each grave as two Israeli drones buzzed overhead...http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1943541,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12

Television crews will be allowed to broadcast the murder trial of a rape defendant accused of killing four people in an escape from a downtown Atlanta courthouse, a judge ruled Thursday. The defense had requested a ban, saying the cameras' presence would damage Brian Nichols' right to a fair trial. They said some witnesses were reluctant to testify because of the media coverage. Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller disagreed and sided with the media in ruling that video and still cameras and recording equipment will be allowed, though he said he could still limit broadcasts if circumstances warrant that. The trial is scheduled to start Jan. 11. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Nichols has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, kidnapping, carjacking, escape and other offenses. ...http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2641055

Thailand's coup leaders are under fire for allegedly accepting extra payments that effectively double their salaries. Thai newspapers report that the new cabinet decided to give the leaders of September's coup additional pay on top of their monthly military salaries. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is reported to have defended the move, saying the extra payments were worth it to rid the country of corruption. Coup leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin will get a salary of nearly 120,000 baht ($3,000) per month for chairing the CNS, a similar amount to his monthly military salary, according to the Bangkok Post newspaper. His deputy, Air Chief Marshal Chalit Phukphasuk, will receive nearly 114,000 baht while the other five CNS members will receive 110,000 baht, in addition to their military salaries. The coup leaders have also been given positions on the boards of state firms...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6132034.stm